Sewing-machine presser foot



Oct. 22, i929.

"a, L. SUMMERS 1,732,665

SEWING MACHINE PRESSER FOOT Original Filedvoot. 1923 ATTORNEYS Cir Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GILBERT LAWRENCE SUMMERS, OF NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR 'I'O, WILLCOX & GIBBS SEWING MACHINE (30., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SEWING-MACHINE PRESSER FOOT Application filed October 6, 1923, Serial No. 666,960. Renewed March 12, 1929.

The present invention relates to presserfeet for sewing machines and more particularly to presser-feet of the type having two work contacting bottom springs extending longitudinally of and positioned at opposite sides respectively along the bottom of the foot and thus adapting the same for operating either with equal thickness of fabric under both sides of the foot or with greater thickness under one side, either side, than the other. This type of presser foot including such springs has heretofore been practically and commercially used on what is known as the WillcoX & Gibbs Sewing Machine Companys flatlock machine, shown for example in patents to Stockton Borton 1,041,574, and to A. A. Merritt 1,041,652, both dated October 15th, 1912, and producing the seam of Burton Patent 883, 614, dated March 31st,1908.

The principal object of the present invention is to further improve the aforesaid type of presser foot with respect to its functioning in flattening the seam produced in using such a foot. This and other objects are attained by the present invention which can best be explained by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating what is at present believed to be the preferred structural embodiment and expression thereof. In said draw 1ngs- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the presserfoot, with the trimmings deflector partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front view in which part of the presser-foot and part of the arm which carries the movable trimmer blade are shown in elevation, and in which the work-plate, feedmember, and part of the work-arm supporting the work-plate, are shown in transverse section. Two thicknesses of fabric under one side of the presser-foot are to be joined to a single thickness of fabric under the other side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear end of the Presser-foot;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the trimmings deflector;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the work contacting parts of the presser foot;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom portion of the foot turned upside down and with the bottom spring members removed;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View of the two bottom springs;

Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views in which the resser-foot is shown in transverse section on a line approximating line a-a of Fig. 5, Fig. 8 showing said presser-foot in engagement with two abutted edges of fabric of equal thickness, and Fig. 9 showing the presser-foot in engagement with two thicknesses of fabric under one side thereof abutted to a single thickness of fabric under the other side of the foot; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modification and in which the Presser-foot is shown in transverse section on a line approximating line aa of Fig. 5.

In many particulars the presser-foot herein illustrated is substantially that of Figs. 46 and 47 of the aforesaid Merritt Patent No. 1,041,652. is the main body of the foot having a split hub 31 adapted to be securely clamped to the lower end of a presser-foot bar movable in the head of the machine, a portion of the wall of which is shown at 80 in Fig. 1. The usual spring 81, the tension of which may be adjusted by a nut 82. yieldingly presses the foot against the work while permitting vertical vibration thereof in re sponse to upward movements of the feed. A cross-thread carrier 32, a cross-thread hook 33, driving connections therefor, and the mounting of these parts on the foot-body 30, are substantially the same as in the said Figs. 46 and 47 of said Merritt patent. Thus, said hook 33 is removably secured by a set-screw to the lower end of an upright shaft 34, Fig. 1, rotatable in an extension 35 of the footbody 30. A rock-lever 36 (Fig. 1) secured to the upper end of shaft34 has a long arm and a short arm, the latter connected by link 37 to a driving part not shown in the drawing. The long arm extends in a curve to a pivotal connection with one end of a link 38, the other end of said link being in turn pivotally connected to a crank-arm 39 at the upper end of a shaft 40 ournaled in an upright opening in the foot body. Cross-thread carrier 32 is detachably secured to the lower end of shaft 40. The cross-thread hook 33 and carrier 32 operate in the manner set forth in the patents aforesaid.

The horizontally disposed flattened portion of the foot-body 30, which extends forward of what'constitutes the shank of the foot, is notched orslotted, forming two toes or branches 41', 42 (Fig. 1) between which the uptu-rnededges of the fabric advance and are trimmed by v the trimmer-blades. Fixed trimmer-blade 43 is secured to the under side of toe 42 by a clamp-block 44 and screw 45 (Figs. 1 and 2). Movable trimmer-blade 46 works in a horizontal opening through toe 41 and is clamped to the lower end of the trimmer arm 47, Fig. 1, which is the same in construction and. operation as arm 643 of Fig. 47 ofithe aforesaid Merritt Patent 1,041,652, the construction being such that the upper movable blade 46 bears upon the upper surface of fixed blade 43 and, with its arm 47, pamticipates in any upward movement of the presser-foot and of blade 43. To deflect to one side the trimmings removed by the trimmer-blades, a deflector 48 is pivoted by a screw 49to toe 41. It may be swung outward on'said pivot-screw, from its normal position shown in Fig. 1, to give access to the thread manipulating elements.

50 (Figs? 1, 5 and 6) is a needle-opening through the press'er-foot. 51 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5 is a chaining-foot positioned in an opening through the foot to the rear of said needleopening, the same .as shown in the patents aforesaid. A stem 52 on said chaining-foot 51 projectsupward into a socket of the footbody 30, and is acted upon by a spring 53 (Fig. to yieldingly hold the chaining-foot to its. work. A screw 54' threaded into stem 52 with its head movable in a slot in the wall 'o fi30 limit-s the movement of the chainingfoot relative to the main foot. Any suitable feed may be-used, either single, or double 1 differential, suchas shown in the patents aforesaid; Fig- 2' shows a feednnember 55 by a work-arm 57 v i The struetureas thus 'far working through cloth-plate 56 supported described in detail is substantially that of the patents aforesaid, and for ordinary uses of sewing machines such as the aforesaid flatlock machine, constitutes acomplete andefficient'presserfoot; But, in; operations upon fabric of materially different thicknesses under opposite sides-of the foot-ms where the edge of a single thickness of heavy fabric is'to be abutted and joined to' the'edge ofa double'thickness of the. same -fabric-the lifting of the foot by the greaterthickness ofmaterial under one side 'thereef interferes with the satisfactory enresser-foot to such conditions of different thicknesses, yielding bottom springs have been practically and commercially used prior to the present invention, said bottom springs being in the form of an attachment, or attachments, removably applicable to a presserfoot such as hereinbefore described, as will be more fully understood from the here following detailed description of such bottom springs.

60 is a bottom spring extending beneath the left-hand side of the foot proper lengthwise thereof. It is made of a. fiat strip of spring metal, preferably steel, slightly bowed alon its middle and bent over at its opposite ends, similar to the runner of a boys sled. The forward bent end 61 fits toe 42 of the foot and is secured thereto by a screw 62. The hooked rear end 63 of bottom 60 engages about the rear edge of the foot proper forming a. loose connection thereto allowing freedom of longitudinal movement, as the bowed bottom is flattened more or less against the normal bottom surface of the foot proper, and also limited freedom of lateral movement. In addition to thus providing for attachment of the fiat-spring bottom member to the foot proper, the rounded surfaces formed by the bending of the spring at both ends avoid angular edges to be passed by the material in i s advance under the foot.

is similar foot bottom extending beneath the right-hand side of the foot proper lengthwise thereof, secured at its forward bent end 71 to toe 41 by a screw 72, and at its rear hooked end 73 making loose connection to the rear edge of the foot proper, affording frccdom oflongituoinal and limited lateral movement relative thereto. The inner edges of the two flat-spring bottom members are so relatively shaped as to it about the chainingfoot 51 and clear the needle-opening 50, said edges standing closest together at 64- and Tel; just in front of aid needle-opening. from whence they graduallv diverge to their forward ends. A rod hooked at both ends i nto engagement with the hooks 63 and 73 r"- spectively of the flat spring bottom members, as clearly shown in n 3. but omitted in Fin. 1. permits limited lateral movement of said bottom springs at their rear ends but prevents such movement to an extent snflicicnt to disengage either of said hooks 63 or 73 from the rear edge of the foot proper.

Prior to the present nvention the fiat bottom surface of the main body of the foot or foot proper 30-including the parts of said surface covered by the two bottom springs and also the parts thereof between the inner edges of said springs both in front of and in the rear of the needle openinghas all been in the same plane. With the bottom springs applied beneath said surface all in the same plane, a downwardly openin groove is formed between the inner spaced edges of the springs and that portion of said bottom surface of the foot proper which lies above said space between the edges of the springs. And even when both springs are presset firmly against said bottom surface of the foot body, such groove is present to a depth equal to the thickness of the metal. of the springs and extending along the bottom of the foot from the inner end of the slot in the forward portion of the foot up to and then past the needle opening. In the operation of the foot upon fabric, this shallow groove or space is positioned over the two edges of fabric which have been trimmed at the forward part of the foot and which are to be abutted and sewed together at the rear portion of the foot, and said groove thus tends to permit said fabric edges to pass without being compressed and flattened. to the maximum at their line of abutment with a resulting tendency toward a slightly ridged seam.

According to the present invention, while the two portions 85 and 86 (Fig. 6) of the bottom surface of the body of the foot, or foot proper 30, which portions 85 and 86 are cov ered by the bottom springs 60 and 70 respectivelyare in a plane preferably higher than heretofore, a distance equal to the thickness of the metal of the springs, other portions of the bottom surface of said foot proper not covered by the inner edges of the springs. are so formed as to lie in a plane at a lower level, lower to the extent of the thickness of the metal of the bottom springs. Thus the por tion 87 in front of the needle opening and be tween the inner edges of the bottom springs, and the portion 88 at the rear of said n edle opening and also between the inner edges of the bottom springs, are so formed as to both stand in a plane below the level or plane of the surface portions 85 and 86 a distance equal to the thi :lzness of the metal of the springs. This formation may be accomplished by welding or otherwise attaching pieces of metal to constitute the portions 87 and 88, but prefer-- ably a single piece of metal constituting the main body of the foot, or at least the lower portion thereof, is cut away at its bottom to present the aforesaid relationship of surfaces 85, 86, 87, and 88: either way. there are bot tom surface portions 8'? and 88 fixed on the foot proper or main body of the foot.

As shown in Fig. 2. the presser foot is op erating upon two thicknesses of material or fabric 00 and y under the left hand sidethereof. to be joined by an abutted seam to a single thickness of material .2 under the right hand side thereof. The spring pressure er;- crted by the .lar presscr foot spring 81, being more powerful than the spring power of either, or both, spring bottoms 60 and 70, the flat bottom spring 60 in engagement with double thickness of material is flattened firmly into contact with the surface 85 (Fig. 6) of the b0 y of the foot beneath which said sp *ing is positioned. At the same time the bottom spring 70, still slightly bowed outward from the portion 86 of the bottom of the main body of the foot over which said spring is positioned, makes firm yielding engagement with the single thickness of material under the right hand side of the foot, Fig. 2. The material or fabric so engaged is uniformly advanced under both sides of the foot by the feed (see feed member of Fig. 2 for example) notwithstanding the different thicke nesses. Obviously, if the two thicknesses of material were under the right hand side of the foot and the single thickness under the left hand side, the action of the fiat spring bottom members would be reversed. In thus automatically accommodating itself to differences and variations in thickness of material, the presser foot is enabled to maintain a firm and distributed pressure upon the work against the cloth plate and feed members, and to afford an even feed at both sides of the seam regardless of differences and variations in the thickness of material.

As diagrammatically shown in Fig. 8, in operating upon like thicknesses of fabric under both sides of the presser foot, both bottom springs are pressed upward firmly into contact with the overlying portions of the bottom surface of the main body of the foot, and the bottom surfaces of both springs and portions 87 and 88 of the bottom surface of the main body of the foot, all stand in the same plane flush with each other. There is thus presented a practically continuous flat surface extending across the line of abutment of the fabric edges both in front of and to the rear of the needle opening without groove or depression and acting to compress, compact or iron down the abutting edges and produce seam of maximum flatness free of any ridge effect. There is a similar functioning in forming an abutted seam joining greater to lesser thicknesses of fabric, except that in suchcase the bottom spring in engagement with the lesser thickness of fabric or material stands below the level of the other spring and the bottom surfaces 87 and 88. An example of this is diagrammatically illustrated in 9, in joining two thicknesses of fabric under the left side of the foot to one thickness un der the right side. The bottom spring engaging the two thicknesses aa and y is pressed upward into firm contact with the overlying portion 85 of the bottom surface of the main body of the foot, while the bottom spring yieldingly engages the single thickness 2 at the other side of the foot at a lower level.

It is generally preferable to make a presser tom'spring ma 1 be omitted at the could, in accordance with my notch or :slot extending rearwa sides'of the foot. But if in operating upon' greater to lesser thicknesses of fabric, the les'ser'thiclrnc'ss is to be regularly presented under the same side of the foot, then the botf the foot which is to regularly en age the reater th-icknessl Under such condi on that portion of the bottom of the main body of the foot not covered-by the single bott-o; spin;

present invention; be so formed asto stan in a plane be low that portion of said bottom covered by the bottom spring, the distance below being, equal to the thickness of the metal of the as diagramn'iatically shown for example-in Fig. 10 which is a sectional view on a line corresponding to the line aa of I Fig. 5..

That is claimed as new is 1.2111 a presser foot, the combination of the foot proper or main body of the foot having a notch or slot rearwardly fromv the forward end thereof and which upstanding fabric is adapted to be advanced s de 2o-v and trimmed before it reaches the stitch forming parts; a horizontally 'oper trlmnnn mechanism 1nclud1n relati in m movable bladesvcooperating at their on edges in sa1d notch to trim upstanding aanric advancing therein; two vertically yieldable flat spring fabric engaging bottom in hers extending longitudinally beneath tne foot body at opposite sides thereof and spaced apart at their inner edges; and a bottom sur- 35. face fixed on the foot proper and po ltioned between the inner edges of said spring bottom members and to the rear of the notch and '-adapted to flush the bottom surface ofeither or both ofsaid flat spring bottom members as; when the same are pressed upward relative to the foot proper by engagement with fabric thereunder.

2; In a presserfoot, the combination of the foot proper ormain body of the oot having a y from the forward end thereof andin which upstanding fabric is adapted to be advanced and trimmed beforeit reaches the-stitch forming parts, saidfoot proper-also having a needle opening thereinto the rear of said slot; a horizontally operating trimming mechanism including relatively inovablc' blades cooper- I ating'at their cutting edges in said notch to trim upstanding fabric advancing therein;

55*?twovertically yieldable'flat spring fabric engaging bottom members extending longitin V V nally beneath the foot body at opposite sides thereof and spaced apart at their inner edge and a bottom surface on the foot proper positi'oned'between the inner edges of said'spring bottom members to the rear of st l notch and in front of the needle opening in the foot proper and adapted to flush the bottom surface'of'eitheror both of said fiat spring bottom members when the same are pressed upward relative to the foot proper by engagement with fabric thereunder.

3. In a presser foot, the combination of the foot proper or main body of the foot having a notch or slot extending rearwardly from the forward end thereof and in which up standing fabric is adapted to be advanced and trimmed before it reaches the stitch ring parts, said foot proper also having a needle opening therein to the rear of said slot; at horizontally operating trimming mechanism including relatively movable blades cooperating at their cutting edges in said notch to trim upstanding fabric advancing therein; two vertically yieldable fiat spring fabric engaging bottom members extenoing longitudinally beneath the foot body at opposite sides thereof and spaced apart at their inner edges; and a bottom surface fixed on the foot proper and positioned between the inner edges of said fiat spring bottom members to the rear of the needle opening and adapted to flush the bottom surface of either or both of said flat spring bottom members when the same are pressed upward ive to the foot proper by engagement fabric thereunder.

a. In a presser foot, the combination of 4 ie foot proper or main body of the foot hav- 2' a notch or slot extending rearwardly from tie forward end thereof and in which upstanding fabric is adapted to be advanced and trimmed before it reaches the stitch forming parts, said foot proper also having a needle opening therein to the rear of said slot: a horizontally operating trimming mechanism including relatively movable blades cooperating at their cutting edges in said notch to trim upstanding fabric advancing therein; two vertically yieldable flat spring fabric engaging bottom members extending longitudinally beneath the foot body at opposite sides thereof and spaced apart at their inner edges; and bottom surfaces on the foot proper positioned between the inner edges of said fiat spring bottom members in front of and to the rear of the needle opening respectively and adapted to flush the bottom surface of either or both of said flat spring bottom membcms when the same are pr ssed upward relative to the foot proper by engagement with fabric thereunder.

side thereof; and a bottom surface fixed on the foot proper and positioned to the rear of I the notch and bordered by the inner edge of said bottom spring and adapted to flush the bottom surface of said bottom spring when the same is pressed upward relative to the foot proper by engagement with fabric there under.

6. lln a presser foot, the combination of the foot proper or main body of the foot having a notch or slot extending rearwardl from the forward end thereof and in which upstanding fabric is adapted to be advanced and trimmed before it reaches the stitch forming parts said foot proper also having a needle opening therein to the rear of said slot; a horizontally operating trimming mechanism ir ludmg relatively movable blades coopera r at their cuttmg edges in said notch to C3 trim upstanding fabric advancing therein; a ver cally yieldabie flat spring fabric engaging hot in member extending longitudinally beneath the foot body at one side thereof; and a bottom fixed surface of the foot proper positioned to the rear of the needle opening and adapted to flush the bottom surface of said bottom spring when the same is pressed upward relative to the foot proper by engagement with fabric thereunder.

7. In a presser foot, the combination of the foot proper or main body of the foot having a notch or slot extending rearwardly from the forward end. thereof and in which upstandin fabric is adapted to be advanced and trimmed before it reaches the stitch forming irts said foot proper also having a needle openi therein to the rear of said slot; at horizontally operatingtrimming mechanism including relatively movable blades cooperating at their cutting edges in. said notch to trim upstanding fabric advancing therein; a vertically yieldable flat pring fabric engaging bottom member extending longitudinally beneath the foot body at one side thereof; and a bottom surface on the presser foot proper positioned to the rear of said notch and in front of said needle opening and adapted to flush the bottom surface of said bottom spring when the latter is pressed upward relative to the foot proper by engagement wlth fabric thereunder.

8. In a presser foot, the combination of the foot proper or main body of the foot having a notch or slot extending rearwardly from the forward end thereof and in which upstanding fabric is adapted to be advanced and trimmed before it reaches the stitch forming parts, said foot proper also having a needle opening therein to the rear of said slot; a horizontally operating trimming mechanism including relatively movable blades cooperating at their cutting edges in said notch to trim upstanding fabric advancing therein; two vertically yieldable fabric engaging bottom members extending longitudinally beneath the foot body at opposite sides thereof and spaced apart attheir inner edges; and a bottom surface fixed on the foot proper and positioned between the inner edges of said yieldable bottom members to therear of said notch in the footproper'and adapted to flush the bottomsurface of either or both of said yieldable bottom members when the same are pressedupward relative to the foot proper by engagement with fabric thereunder.

9. In a presser foot, the combination of the foot proper or main body of the foot having a notch or slot extending rearwardly from the forward end thereof and in which upstanding fabric is adapted to beadvanced and trimmed before it reaches the stitch forming parts, said foot proper also having a needle opening therein to the rear of saidslot; a horizontally operating trimming mechanism including relatively movable blades cooperating at their cutting edges in said notch to trim upstanding fabric advancing therein; two vertically yieldable fabric engaging bottom members extending longitudinally beneath the foot body at opposite sides thereof and spaced apart at their inner edges; and a bottom surface on the foot proper positioned between the inner edges of said yieldable bottom members to the rear of said notch and in front of the needle openingin the foot proper and adapted to flush the bottom surface of either or both of said yicldable bottom members when the same are pressedupward relative to the foot proper by engagement with fabric thereunder.

10. In a presser foot the combination of the foot proper or main body of the foot having a notch or slot extending rearwardly from the forward end thereof and in which upstanding fabric is adapted to be advanced and trimmed before it reaches the stitch forming parts, said foot proper also having a needle opening therein to the rear of said slot; a horizontally operating trimming mechanism including relatively movable bladesc0- operating at their cutting edges in said notch to trim upstanding fabric advancing therein; two vertically yieldable fabric engaging bottom members extending longitudinally beneath the foot body at opposite sides thereof and spaced apart at their inner edges; and a bottom surface fixed on the foot proper and positioned between the inner edges of said yieldable bottom members to the rear of the needle opening and adapted to flush the bottom surface of either or both of said yieldable bottom members when the same are pressed upward relative to the foot proper standing fabric is adapted to be advanced and trimmed before it reaches the stitch forming: parts, said foot proper also having a needle opening therein to the rear of said Slot; a horizontally operating trimming o mechanism. including relatively movable bl ades cooperating at their cutting edges in said notch to trim upstanding fabric advancing therein; a vertically yieldable fabric-engaging bottom member extending longitu inally beneath the foot body at one side thereof; and a bottom surface fixed on the a foot proper and positioned to the rear of the notch and bordered by the inner edge of said vertically yieldable fabric-engaging bottom member and adapted to flush the bottom surface of Said yieldable member when the latter is pressed upward relative to the foot proper by engagement with fabric thereunder.

12. In a presser foot, the combination of thefoot proper or main body of the foot having a notch or slot extending rearwardly from the forward end thereof and in which upstanding fabric is adapted to be. advanced andtrimmedbefore it reaches the stitch forming parts, said foot proper also having a needle opening therein to the rear of said slot a horizontally operating trimming mechanism including relatively movable blades cooperating at their cutting edges in said notch V totrim upstanding fabric advancing therebottom member extending longitudinally bei in; a vertically yieldable fabric-engaging --neath he foot body at oneside thereof; and

a bottom surface fixed on the foot proper and positioned to the. rear of the notch and in front of the needle opening in the foot proper and bordered by the inner edge of said vertical'ly yieldable fabric-engaging bottommemher and adapted to flush the bottom surface of said yieldable member when the latter is, pressed upward relative to the foot proper by engagement with fabric thereunder.

In testimonyf whereof I have signed this Specification. v

{HLBERT LAWRENCE SUMMERS. 

